Power pedestals with per side main breaker disconnects

ABSTRACT

Power pedestals with individual per side ground fault mains allow for service of breakers and receptacles without interrupting power to adjacent in-use power circuits and or boaters. In turn, ground fault mains eliminate the need for individual ground fault breakers tied to each receptacle. The power pedestals also allow for use of reverse Y adapters in the vessel to pedestal connection and allow for serviceability of single side or whole pedestal without disconnecting power to a string of pedestals on a loop feed circuits and can reduce overall cost of maintenance by eliminating costly individual ground fault breakers per-shore power connection.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to power pedestals and may be particularlysuitable for marine or recreational vehicle power pedestals.

BACKGROUND

Power pedestals are typically free-standing outdoor electricalenclosures and are well known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos.8,089,747 and 6,844,716, the contents of which are hereby incorporatedby reference as if recited in full herein. The power pedestals canprovide a utility power distribution for certain target devices such asmarine or recreational vehicles. Known power pedestals include one ormore circuit breakers and power receptacles that can be used to providepower to the target devices. The power pedestals include one or morecircuit interrupters such as ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs)that provide ground fault protection for the power outlet receptacles.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention are directed to power pedestals thatinclude a housing that has a first sidewall with externally accessiblefirst and second power outlet receptacles and a second sidewall withexternally accessible third and fourth power outlet receptacles. Thepower pedestals also include a power circuit in the housing coupled toan incoming bus. The power circuit has a first ground fault circuitbreaker coupled to first and second branch circuit breakers and a secondground fault circuit breaker coupled to third and fourth branch circuitbreakers. The first and second branch circuit breakers are coupled tothe first and second power outlet receptacles, respectively, and thethird and fourth branch circuit breakers are coupled to the third andfourth power outlet receptacles, respectively. The first, second, thirdand fourth branch circuit breakers are non-ground fault circuit breakerswhereby the first, second, third, and fourth power outlet receptaclesare free of connections to respective individual ground fault breakers.

The power circuit can have a first side and a second side that are eachelectrically connected to a first lead, a second lead, electrical groundand electrical neutral of the incoming bus. The first side includes thefirst ground fault circuit breaker and the first and second branchcircuit breakers and the second side includes the second ground faultcircuit breaker and the third and fourth branch circuit breakers.

The power pedestal can be configured so that only one of the first sideor the second side of the power circuit further has a photocell and alight source coupled to the first lead.

The power pedestal can be configured so that only one of the first sideor the second side of the power circuit has a photocell and a lightsource and also has a fuse coupled to the first lead and the photocell.

The first, second, third and fourth power outlet receptacles can bemarine grade, corrosion resistant receptacles.

The first and second ground fault circuit breakers can be two-phase, 30mA ground fault protected devices.

The first, second, third and fourth branch circuit breakers can be twophase, 50 A (amp) devices.

The first, second, third and fourth power outlet receptacles can be 50A, 125/250V power outlet receptacles.

The first, second power outlet receptacles can be configured to connectto first and second plugs of a reverse Y adapter in a vessel to powerpedestal connection.

The power pedestal can be provided in combination with a powerdistribution cabinet with a feeder breaker connected to the powerpedestal and to a plurality of additional power pedestals defining apower pedestal loop feed bus. The power circuit of each power pedestalcan be configured to provide an electrical disconnect from the loop feedbus allowing for serviceability of the first side or the second side ofthe power circuit or an entirety of the power pedestal withoutdisconnecting power to a string of pedestals on the loop feed bus.

The power pedestal can have an internal bus electrically connected tothe incoming bus and to the first, second, third and fourth power outletreceptacles providing the power circuit.

The internal bus can reside inside the housing above the incoming bus.

The power pedestal can also include a water supply connection coupled tothe housing.

The housing can have a third sidewall connecting the first and secondsidewalls. The third sidewall can have a removable panel or a pivotablepanel. The third sidewall can optionally have a visually transmissivewindow.

The power pedestal can also include a first ground fault indicator andreset and externally accessible and adjacent the first ground faultcircuit breaker on the first sidewall and a second ground faultindicator and reset externally accessible and adjacent the second groundfault circuit breaker on the second sidewall.

Other embodiments are directed to methods of providing ground faultprotection to power pedestals. The methods include providing a pluralityof power pedestals, each with a power circuit in a power pedestalhousing and coupled to an incoming bus. The power circuit includes afirst ground fault circuit breaker coupled to first and second branchcircuit breakers and a second ground fault circuit breaker coupled tothird and fourth branch circuit breakers. The first and second branchcircuit breakers are coupled to first and second power outletreceptacles, respectively. The third and fourth branch circuit breakersare coupled to third and fourth power outlet receptacles, respectively.The first, second, third and fourth branch circuit breakers arenon-ground fault circuit breakers thereby eliminating individual groundfault breakers tied to each power outlet receptacle. The methods furtherinclude: electrically disconnecting the first ground fault circuitbreaker from the power circuit and while keeping the second ground faultcircuit breaker operational and with the power circuit providing powerto the third and fourth power outlet receptacles but not the first andsecond power outlet receptacles; and servicing power circuit componentsof the power pedestal while the third and fourth power outletreceptacles are supplying power and the first and second power outletreceptacles are not supplying power without requiring a power down of anentirety of the power circuit.

The power circuit can have a first side and a second side that are eachelectrically connected to a first lead, a second lead, electrical groundand electrical neutral of the incoming bus. The first side can includethe first ground fault circuit breaker and the first and second branchcircuit breakers and the second side can include the second ground faultcircuit breaker and the third and fourth branch circuit breakers.

The power pedestals can be provided so that only one of the first sideor the second side of the power circuit further has a photocell and alight source coupled to the first lead. The method can further includedetecting environmental lighting conditions using the photocell andilluminating the power pedestal using the light source.

The first, second, third and fourth power outlet receptacles can bemarine grade, corrosion resistant receptacles.

The method can further include connecting a reverse Y adapter cable froma vessel to a power pedestal of the plurality of power pedestals forshore power.

The power pedestal can be one of a plurality of power pedestalsconnected to a common feeder breaker of a power distribution cabinet anddefining a power pedestal loop feed bus. The method can further includeallowing each power pedestal to provide an electrical disconnect fromthe loop feed bus allowing for serviceability of the first side or thesecond side of the power circuit or an entirety of the power pedestalwithout disconnecting power to a string of pedestals on the loop feedbus thereby allowing for serviceability of the first side or the secondside of the power circuit or the entire power pedestal withoutdisconnecting power to a string of the plurality of power pedestals on aloop feed circuit.

Further features, advantages and details of the present invention willbe appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading ofthe figures and the detailed description of the preferred embodimentsthat follow, such description being merely illustrative of the presentinvention.

It is noted that aspects of the invention described with respect to oneembodiment, may be incorporated in a different embodiment although notspecifically described relative thereto. That is, all embodiments and/orfeatures of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/orcombination. Applicant reserves the right to change any originally filedclaim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to be ableto amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporateany feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in thatmanner. These and other objects and/or aspects of the present inventionare explained in detail in the specification set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an example power pedestal accordingto embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the power pedestal shown in FIG. 1 ,illustrated with one wall panel removed according to embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3A is a side perspective view of a power pedestal illustrating apivotable wall panel according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a side perspective view of a power pedestal illustrating adetachable/removable wall panel according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4A is a schematic illustration of a power pedestal with exampleinternal components according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is another schematic illustration of a power pedestal withexample internal components according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5A is a front view of another embodiment of a power pedestalaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a front view of the power pedestal shown in FIG. 5A, shownwith a wall panel removed according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5C is a side view of the power pedestal shown in FIG. 5A, accordingto embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5D is a side view of the power pedestal shown in FIG. 5A accordingto embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a schematic illustration of example ground fault circuitry ofa power pedestal according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a schematic illustration of the example ground faultcircuitry shown in FIG. 6A illustrated with a reverse Y adapter cableaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an example APP used forcommunicating with a power pedestal according to embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a power control and/or monitoringmodule or station that can communicate with multiple power pedestalsaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of data of one or more powerpedestals that can be provided to a dashboard and/or monitored and/orcontrolled by a power control monitoring module according to embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of a power control system that cancontrol power input to and/or output from one or more power pedestalsaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of an example data processing systemaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of actions that can be carried out forcommunicating with power pedestals according to embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration of an example power pedestal loopfeed bus according to embodiments of the present invention.

Further features, advantages and details of the present invention willbe appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading ofthe figures and the detailed description of the preferred embodimentsthat follow, such description being merely illustrative of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrativeembodiments of the invention are shown. Like numbers refer to likeelements and different embodiments of like elements can be designatedusing a different number of superscript indicator apostrophes (e.g., 10,10′, 10″, 10′″).

In the drawings, the relative sizes of regions or features may beexaggerated for clarity. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layersand/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/orsections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only usedto distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section fromanother region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component,region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a secondelement, component, region, layer or section without departing from theteachings of the present invention.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”,“upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both anorientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90° or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. The term “about” refersto numbers in a range of +/−20% of the noted value. Any numerical rangestated to be between two numbers is inclusive of the end point numbers.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. Itwill be further understood that the terms “includes,” “comprises,”“including” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification,specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations,elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will be understood thatwhen an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” toanother element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the otherelement or intervening elements may be present. As used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of this specification andthe relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

As employed herein, the term “vehicle” shall expressly include, but notbe limited by, a land vehicle, a marine vehicle, an air vehicle oranother motor vehicle.

As employed herein, the term “land vehicle” shall expressly include, butnot be limited by, any land-based vehicles having pneumatic tires, anyrail-based vehicles, any maglev vehicles, automobiles, cars, trucks,station wagons, sport-utility vehicles (SUVs), recreational vehicles,construction vehicles, off road vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, farmvehicles, fleet vehicles, motor homes, vans, buses, motorcycles, mopeds,campers and trailers.

As employed herein, the term “marine vehicle” shall expressly include,but not be limited by, any water-based vehicles, ships, boats, personalwatercraft or other vessels for travel on water, submarines, or othervessels for travel under water.

As employed herein, the term “air vehicle” shall expressly include, butnot be limited by, any air-based vehicles, airplanes, jets, aircraft,airships, drones, balloons, blimps, or dirigibles.

As employed herein, the term “power pedestal” shall mean a pedestalstructured to input power from input power terminals (e.g., utilitypower terminals) and output power to a number of output powerreceptacles held by the power pedestal.

The term “APP” refers to a computer program configured to providedefined functionality on a computer including pervasive computingdevices and/or mobile devices such as an electronic notebook or notepad,smart phone, laptop, and the like. In some embodiments, thefunctionality of the APP may be accessible via an icon on a display ofthe computer and/or may be accessed by other user input, such as inputprovided by a typed or spoken user interface of the computer. Thecomputer program may comprise computer program code configured to residein a memory of the computer to be accessed and executed by a processoror other computing circuit of the computer, but the embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the computerprogram code, processor, and/or memory may be located remotely from thecomputer providing the functionality, such as in a networkedenvironment, or “cloud.”

As employed herein, the term “processor” shall mean a programmableanalog and/or digital device that can store, retrieve, and process data;a computer; a workstation; a personal computer; a digital signalprocessor (DSP); a microprocessor; a microcontroller; a microcomputer; acentral processing unit; a mainframe computer; a mini-computer; aserver; a networked processor; a programmable logic device (PLD); acombination of a plurality of logic gates; or any suitable processingdevice or apparatus.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a power pedestal 10 such as, for exampleand without limitation, a marine and/or vehicle power pedestal, with anenclosure 10 e for certain electrical components of the power pedestal10 is shown. The enclosure 10 e can include an outer wall 10 w thatfaces a meter socket 12. The meter socket 12 is held inside theenclosure 10 e. The term “meter socket” is well known to those of skillin the art and refers to a metering assembly 120 with such meter socket12 that meters power usage. The meter socket 12 can have a circularouter perimeter.

The power pedestal 10 can include a display 20 that is externallyviewable. The power pedestal 10 can also include a light source 27 suchas an LED illumination light and a photocell 28. The light source 27 andthe photocell 28 may reside at a top portion 10 t of the power pedestal10.

The incoming bus 14 can be oriented to direct the electrical lines 140to be routed upward toward the meter socket 12. The internal bus 16 canbe oriented to direct the electrical lines 160 to extend downward towardthe one or more power outlet receptacles 40 and the one or more circuitbreakers 30.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the internal bus 16 can extend horizontally acrossa sub-width of the chamber 10 c of the enclosure 10 e. The incoming bus14 can extend vertically under the meter socket 12. The incoming bus 14can have a height dimension H that is greater than a transverse lengthdimension I of the internal bus 16. The meter socket 12 can occupy amajor portion of a width of the chamber 10 c. The power pedestal canhave a height dimension H that is greater than a width and/or depthdimension to provide a relatively small external footprint. In someembodiments, the width dimensions W of each side are all in a range of8-12 inches, such as in a range of 9-10 inches while the heightdimension His 4-8 times greater than a largest of the width dimensionsW.

The wall 10 w can include a window 11 that is aligned with the internalmeter socket 12 that allows a user to be able to see the meter socket12. The window 11 can comprise a visually transmissive material such asa translucent or transparent material. The window 11 can compriseplexiglass. The window 11 is shown as circular but can be any desiredshape allow for viewing of the internal meter socket/assembly 12/120.

Still referring to FIG. 2 , the power pedestal 10 can comprise atransceiver 25 that can communicate with at least one external devicesuch as a remote monitoring/control system 100 and one or more mobiledevices 110. The transceiver 25 can be coupled to the meter assembly 120comprising the meter socket 12 and can be configured to allow forcontrol of power output from or provided to a respective power pedestal10 and local or remote wireless communication allowing for wirelessmetering.

The transceiver 25 can be configured to receive/accept user input. Thetransceiver 25 can comprise or be coupled to a processor 26. Thetransceiver 25 can be configured to transmit data from a respectivepower pedestal 10 to one or more external devices, shown as devices 100,110 (FIG. 4A). The transceiver 25 can be configured to transmit currentuser information associated with a respective power pedestal 10.

The display 20 can be configured to have or be in communication with aprogrammable interface 23 that allows different marinas/RV parks and thelike to customize and select or define input parameters and outputparameters to facilitate communication to (marina) tenants. The display20 can be in communication with the transceiver 25. The display 20 canbe configured to display information such as reminders on arrival date,departure schedule, payments due, power usage and the like. The display20 can be configured to display a slip number/slot or lotnumber/location, vehicle name, vehicle ownership, tag number, countryregistration data and the like as well as meteorological data, meteringinformation, and power pedestal status (reserved, active ON, Offline forrepair/service and the like). The display 20 can be configured toprovide advertising and/or data on local attractions and eateries. Thedisplay 20 can be configured to display ground fault data of a powercircuit 300 connecting one or more circuit interrupters 30 to one ormore power outlet receptacles 40 of the power pedestal 10.

The power pedestal 10 can include a power circuit 300 comprising atleast one circuit interrupter 30 (e.g., circuit breaker) and an incomingbus 14 with electrical lines 140 coupled to the meter socket 12. Thepower circuit 300 can also be configured with an internal bus 16. Theinternal bus 16 can include electrical lines 160 that are coupled to oneor more respective circuit breakers 30 and/or one or more respectivepower outlet receptacles 40. The meter socket 12 can also be coupled tothe internal bus 16. The internal bus 16 can reside above the incomingbus 14. As will be discussed further below, the one or more circuitbreakers 30 can include at least one primary or main circuit breaker 30,configured as a GFCI or GFCI/AFCI, that can be coupled to at least onebranch circuit breaker 130 (FIG. 6 ), that is, in turn, coupled to arespective power receptacle 40. In doing so, the power pedestal 10 canprovide GFPE or GFCI protection to all shore power receptacles 40 on agiven side of the pedestal rather than providing individual GFCI/GFPEbreakers 130 for each receptacle 40.

Conventionally, meter sockets are located outside of the enclosure 10 e.The internal meter socket 12/meter assembly 120 allows for protectionfrom environmental conditions, tampering and vandalism.

Also, and advantageously, unlike power pedestals 10 with external metersockets, to service the power pedestal 10, there is no requirement topull out lengths of electrical cables 140, 160 to access internalcomponents. Instead, the cables 140, 160 can remain in position in thechamber 10 c inside the enclosure 10 e and access to the meter assembly120 can be provided by pivoting the panel 10 w to an open position (FIG.3A) or by removing the panel 10 w (FIG. 3B).

The power pedestal 10 can include the internal meter socket 12, thetransceiver 25 and the display 20, the internal bus 16 and the incomingbus 14 (ready for customer installation thereto) and can be factorywired as a complete system that complies with UL231 listed marina powerpedestal standards.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the power pedestal 10 can comprise an internalcircuit 50 that couples the transceiver 25 to a display interface 23 anddisplay 20. The transceiver 25 can communicate with the mobile device110 and control/monitoring system 100 which may be provided as aworkstation 100 s and/or a dashboard 101 on a computer(s) or mobiledevice 110. The system 100 can include a transceiver 100 t thatcommunicates with a plurality of power pedestals 10.

Referring to FIG. 4B, the power pedestal 10 can comprise an internalcircuit 50 that couples the transceiver 25 to the meter assembly 120comprising the meter socket 12, and to the display 20. The internalcircuit 50 can be configured to allow the transceiver to wirelesslycommunicate with the meter assembly 120, optionally via another (second)transceiver 121 coupled to the metering assembly 120. The internalcircuit 50 can also couple the incoming and internal power buses 14, 16,respectively via the metering assembly 120.

FIG. 4B illustrates that the first transceiver 25 and the secondtransceiver 121 can each be configured to wirelessly communicate with arespective mobile device 110 and/or remote control/monitoring systemand/or station 100.

The internal circuit 50 can include a communications bus 50 b that cancomprise a Modbus® configuration or other communications busconfiguration.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the power pedestal 10 can alsoinclude a plurality of power (outlet) receptacles 40 that are externallyaccessible, optionally under a protective door or cover 42. The powerreceptacles 40 can be provided on a wall panel that is spaced apart fromthe wall panel 10 w providing the window 11 or that is pivotably orremovably attached to the enclosure 10 e of the power pedestal. The wallpanel 10 w can be oriented to face a walkway to facilitate ease ofaccess. However, the wall panel 10 w can be oriented to face any desiredin-use direction.

Referring to FIGS. 5A-5C, the power pedestal 10 can include first andsecond primary circuit breakers 30 ₁, 30 ₂, that can be positioned onrespective opposing sides 10 s ₁, 10 s ₂ of the enclosure 10 e. Theremovable or detachable wall panel 10 w (shown removed in FIG. 5B) canbe on a side of the enclosure 10 e that is between the opposing sides 10s ₁, 10 s ₂. One primary circuit breaker 30 ₁ or 30 ₂, can be alignedunder one door or cover 42 that can reside over one or more power outletreceptacle 40. A secondary or branch circuit breaker 130 can be coupledto each power outlet receptacle and one of the primary circuit breakers30.

Referring to FIG. 5C, the power pedestal 10 can also include a water box15. The water box 15 can provide a water supply line valve connection 15c.

Referring to FIG. 5D, the power pedestal 10 can be configured to connectto a reverse Y cable 240 with a first end comprising a fi first andsecond plugs 240P that connect to adjacent first and second receptacles40 of the power pedestal 10 and the cable 240 has an opposing endcomprising a vehicle/vessel receptacle 240R.

FIG. 5D also illustrates that the power pedestal 10 can include a groundfault status indicator and reset 30 i on a respective side wall 10 s ₁adjacent the corresponding ground fault protected main breaker 30 ₁.

FIG. 6A illustrates an example power circuit 300 of the power pedestal10. The power circuit 300 is coupled to the incoming bus 14. The powercircuit 300 can include a first side 305 with the first primary circuitbreaker 30 ₁ coupled to first and second branch circuit breakers 130.The power circuit 300 can include a second side 310 with the secondprimary circuit breaker 30 ₂ coupled to first and second branch circuitbreakers 130. Each branch circuit breaker 130 can be coupled to arespective power outlet receptacle 40. The first side 305 and the secondside 310 are each electrically connected to electrical leads “L”,including L1 (lead 1), L2 (lead 2), G (ground) and N (neutral) of theincoming bus 14. The lead inputs to the primary circuit breakers 30 ₁,30 ₂ and power receptacles 40 can be provided by the internal bus 16(FIG. 2 ).

One of the sides 305, 310, shown as the first side 305 of the powercircuit 300, can also include a fuse 128, the photocell 28 and lightsource (LED assembly) 27 coupled to L1.

The power receptacles 40 can be marine grade, corrosion resistantreceptacles. The power pedestal 10 is structured to provide electricalpower to devices that are electrically connected to the power pedestal10 via the output power receptacles 40.

The primary circuit breakers 30 ₁, 30 ₂ can be configured as two-phase,30 mA ground fault protected devices. Other types/rated GFCIs can beused. The branch circuit breakers 130 can be configured as 50 A (amp)(e.g., 2P 50 A circuit breaker) devices. The power receptacles 40 can beconfigured as 50 A, 125/250V outlets. However, other amperage andvoltage rated devices may be used.

For example, the power receptacles 40 can be provided with at least somehaving different current ratings than others, with correspondingdifferent size receptacles, optionally with 30 A, 50 A and 100 Aratings.

Individual per side ground fault mains 30 ₁, 30 ₂, allow for service ofbreakers 130 and receptacle 40 without interrupting power to adjacentin-use circuits and or users such as boaters. In turn, ground faultmains eliminate the need for individual ground fault breakers tied toeach receptacle 40. Referring to FIG. 6B, this power circuit 300 canallow for use of reverse Y adapter cables 240 in the vessel to pedestalconnection. Currently, reverse Y adapters do not function with groundfault breakers. Advantageously, this configuration also allows forserviceability of single side or whole pedestal without disconnectingpower to a string of pedestals on a loop feed circuit (FIG. 13 ). Thisconfiguration can reduce overall cost of ownership by eliminating costlyindividual ground fault breakers per-shore power connection. Powerpedestals are typically two sided and provide multiple shore powerconnections servicing two slips per single pedestal. Power pedestals 10with integrated ground fault mains 30 ₁, 30 ₂ per side or per pedestal,can reduce overall internal wiring which in turn reduces potentialfailure points. In addition, ground fault mains 30 ₁, 30 ₂ allow for useof nonground fault individual breakers 130 to protect shore powerreceptacles 40 and still meet current applicable code requirements.Shore power breakers are commonly replaced as part of marina maintenanceprograms and the use of non-ground fault (branch) breakers 130 makesreplacement of such breakers easier to perform and/or at a lower overallcost.

Referring to FIG. 7 , in some embodiments, a mobile device 110 of a usercan wirelessly, such as via BLUETOOTH wireless technology, communicatewith the power pedestal 10 using a power pedestal communication APP 111.The APP 111 can be defined or accessible by an icon 111 i on a displayof the mobile device 110 and can comprise input pages 1121 and outputpages 112 o. The input pages 1121 can accept user specific informationsuch as boat name, boat owner, slip number and the like. The input pages1121 can also include reservation requests with slip size required orboat size to correlate with slip size. The output pages 112 o canprovide ground fault data, power usage data and the like.

Referring to FIG. 8 , a facility comprising a plurality of powerpedestals 10, such as a marina or RV park, for example, can beconfigured with a power control/monitoring module or station 100 thatcan communicate with each power pedestal 10. The communication can bewireless communications over a local or global wireless network and mayuse the cloud. The power pedestal monitoring system 100 can be providedusing a server 400. The server 400 may be embodied as a standaloneserver or may be contained as part of other computing infrastructures.The server 400 may be embodied as one or more enterprise, application,personal, pervasive and/or embedded computer systems that may bestandalone or interconnected by a public and/or private, real and/orvirtual, wired and/or wireless network including the Internet, and mayinclude various types of tangible, non-transitory computer-readablemedia. The server 400 may also communicate with the network via wired orwireless connections, and may include various types of tangible,non-transitory computer-readable media. As is known to those of skill inthe art, the server 400 can include or be in communication with a dataprocessing circuit 400 c. The data processing module or circuit 400 ccan provides the APP software program 401 and/or power pedestal (PP)database(s) 402 for one or more facilities (e.g., marinas, RV parks)comprising the power pedestals 10. For example, for each facility, theserver 400 can correlate slip/space numbers, sizes thereof, powerpedestal identifier, status of the power pedestal and ground fault dataand date availability for reservations/in-use information. The server400 can also collect user information, payment information of users.

The dashboard 101 (FIG. 9 ) and/or server 400 can be provided usingcloud computing which includes the provision of computational resourceson demand via a computer network. The resources can be embodied asvarious infrastructure services (e.g., compute, storage, etc.) as wellas applications, databases, file services, email, etc. In thetraditional model of computing, both data and software are typicallyfully contained on the user's computer; in cloud computing, the user'scomputer may contain little software or data (perhaps an operatingsystem and/or web browser) and may serve as little more than a displayterminal for processes occurring on a network of external computers. Acloud computing service (or an aggregation of multiple cloud resources)may be generally referred to as the “cloud”. Cloud storage may include amodel of networked computer data storage where data is stored onmultiple virtual servers, rather than being hosted on one or morededicated servers.

Users can communicate with a respective display 20, the dashboard 101and/or server 400 via a computer network, such as one or more of localarea networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN) and can include a privateintranet and/or the public Internet (also known as the World Wide Web or“the web” or “the Internet.”

FIG. 9 illustrates that the power control/monitoring system 100 such asa module and/or station 100 can comprise a dashboard display 101 ofdifferent power pedestals and corresponding data regarding same,including status, metering data, ground fault data, slip/spot number,current user at site, and ON/OFF power control for each.

FIG. 10 illustrates that a respective power pedestal 10 can be incommunication with a power control switch 150 that can be controlled bythe power control system 100. The first two power pedestals 10 ₁, 10 ₂illustrate an internal power control switch 150 that can be coupled tothe incoming bus 14. The third power pedestal 10 ₃ illustrates anexternal power control switch 150 that is coupled the incoming power bus14. The fourth power pedestal 10 ₄ illustrates that the internal powercontrol switch 150 can be coupled to the internal power bus 16.Combinations of the different power control switches 150 may also beused.

Referring to FIG. 11 , embodiments of the invention may be configured asa data processing system 600, which can include a (one or more)processors 610, a memory 636 and input/output circuits 646. The one ormore processors 610 can be part of a server, router, mobile device,dashboard or power monitoring/control circuit.

The data processing system 600 may be incorporated in, for example, oneor more device such as a smartphone or computer, database, dashboard,server, router, monitoring station or the like.

The data processing system 600 can reside on one machine or bedistributed over a plurality of machines and/or in the “cloud”.

The processor 610 communicates with the memory 636 via an address/databus 648 and communicates with the input/output circuits 646 via anaddress/data bus 649. The input/output circuits 146 can be used totransfer information between the memory (memory and/or storage media)636 and another computer system or a network using, for example, anInternet protocol (IP) connection. These components may be conventionalcomponents such as those used in many conventional data processingsystems, which may be configured to operate as described herein.

In particular, the processor 610 can be commercially available or custommicroprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor or the like.The memory 636 may include any memory devices and/or storage mediacontaining the software and data used to implement the functionalitycircuits or modules used in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. The memory 636 can include, but is not limited to, thefollowing types of devices: ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory,SRAM, DRAM and magnetic disk. In some embodiments of the presentinvention, the memory 636 may be a content addressable memory (CAM).

As further illustrated in FIG. 11 , the memory (and/or storage media)636 may include several categories of software and data used in the dataprocessing system: an operating system 652; application programs 654;input/output device drivers 658; and data 656. As will be appreciated bythose of skill in the art, the operating system 652 may be any operatingsystem suitable for use with a data processing system, such as IBM®,OS/2®, AIX® or zOS® operating systems or Microsoft® Windows®10 orWindowsXP operating systems, FreeRTOS operating system, Unix or Linux™,IBM, OS/2, AIX and zOS are trademarks of International Business MachinesCorporation in the United States, other countries, or both while Linuxis a trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States, other countries,or both. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporationin the United States, other countries, or both. The input/output devicedrivers 658 typically include software routines accessed through theoperating system 652 by the application programs 654 to communicate withdevices such as the input/output circuits 646 and certain memory 636components. The application programs 654 are illustrative of theprograms that implement the various features of the circuits, methodsteps discussed above and/or modules according to some embodiments ofthe present invention. Finally, the data 656 represents the static anddynamic data used by the application programs 654 the operating system652 the input/output device drivers 658 and other software programs thatmay reside in the memory 636.

The data 656 may include (archived or stored) digital data setscorrelated to respective power pedestals.

As further illustrated in FIG. 11 , according to some embodiments of thepresent invention, the application programs 654 include a power controlor power monitoring or power control and power monitoring module 624, aprogrammable display module 625 and/or a user input module 626. The userinput module 626 can communicate with or provide the power pedestal APP111. The application program 654 may be located in a local server (orprocessor) and/or database or a remote server (or processor) and/ordatabase, or combinations of local and remote databases and/or servers.

While the present invention is illustrated with reference to theapplication programs 654, and modules 624, 625 and 626 in FIG. 11 , aswill be appreciated by those of skill in the art, other configurationsfall within the scope of the present invention. For example, rather thanbeing application programs 654 these circuits and modules may also beincorporated into the operating system 652 or other such logicaldivision of the data processing system. Furthermore, while theapplication programs 624, 625, 626 are illustrated in a single dataprocessing system, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art,such functionality may be distributed across one or more data processingsystems in, for example, the type of client/server arrangement describedabove. Thus, the present invention should not be construed as limited tothe configurations illustrated in FIG. 11 but may be provided by otherarrangements and/or divisions of functions between data processingsystems. For example, although FIG. 11 is illustrated as having variousmodules, one or more of these modules may be combined or separatedwithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

Turning now to FIG. 12 , an example method of operating a power pedestalis shown. A power pedestal with a metering assembly and an onboarddisplay is provided (block 700). Power usage detected by the meteringassembly of respective power pedestals is remotely monitored (block702). Power to or from the power pedestal is remotely controlled (block704). User information input to a power pedestal is accepted (block705). Power pedestal information and/or user information is displayed onthe display (block 707). Power pedestal information is accessed using anAPP on a mobile device (block 710).

Referring now to FIG. 13 , an example power pedestal feed bus is shown.The power pedestal feed bus comprises a distribution cabinet 400 with adistribution panel comprising feeder breakers 430. A single feederbreaker 430 can provide power to a plurality of power pedestals 10 viafeeder cable 340 on a pedestal loop feed bus. As shown, a feeder cable340 is connected to the feeder breaker 430 and to the incoming bus 14 ofrespective power pedestals on the loop feed bus. The per side mainbreaker 30 ₁, 30 ₂, provides an electrical disconnect of a respectiveside or the entire corresponding power pedestal allowing for maintenanceof shore power receptacles 40 and branch circuit breakers 130 whilemaintaining power to subsequent/other power pedestals 10 on thesame/single feeder 430 of the loop feed bus. To be clear, the term“loop” when used with the loop feed bus means a feed bus that connects aplurality of power pedestals to a main power source (power distributionpanel), like a “daisy chain” without requiring the “loop” to be “closed”back to the source power supply. There is no closing of the loop neededas electrical loop is already closed through the wiring that is loopedor daisy chained to each pedestal.

Embodiments of the present invention may take the form of an entirelysoftware embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardwareaspects, all generally referred to herein as a “circuit” or “module.”Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computerprogram product on a (non-transient) computer-usable storage mediumhaving computer-usable program code embodied in the medium. Any suitablecomputer readable medium may be utilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs,optical storage devices, a transmission media such as those supportingthe Internet or an intranet, or magnetic storage devices. Some circuits,modules or routines may be written in assembly language or evenmicro-code to enhance performance and/or memory usage. It will befurther appreciated that the functionality of any or all of the programmodules may also be implemented using discrete hardware components, oneor more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or aprogrammed digital signal processor or microcontroller. Embodiments ofthe present invention are not limited to a particular programminglanguage.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of data processingsystems, method steps or actions, modules or circuits (or portionsthereof) discussed herein may be written in a high-level programminglanguage, such as Python, Java, AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript), C,and/or C++, for development convenience. In addition, computer programcode for carrying out operations of exemplary embodiments may also bewritten in other programming languages, such as, but not limited to,interpreted languages. Some modules or routines may be written inassembly language or even micro-code to enhance performance and/ormemory usage. However, embodiments are not limited to a particularprogramming language. As noted above, the functionality of any or all ofthe program modules may also be implemented using discrete hardwarecomponents, one or more application specific integrated circuits(ASICs), or a programmed digital signal processor or microcontroller.The program code may execute entirely on one computer (e.g., aworkstation, circuit breaker, mobile device), partly on one computer, asa stand-alone software package, partly on the workstation's computer andpartly on another computer, local and/or remote or entirely on the otherlocal or remote computer. In the latter scenario, the other local orremote computer may be connected to the user's computer through a localarea network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection maybe made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet usingan Internet Service Provider).

The present invention is described in part with reference to flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) andcomputer program products according to embodiments of the invention. Itwill be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/orblock diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computerprogram instructions. These computer program instructions may beprovided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purposecomputer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce amachine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor ofthe computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, createmeans for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchartand/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing some or all of thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowcharts and block diagrams of certain of the figures hereinillustrate exemplary architecture, functionality, and operation ofpossible implementations of embodiments of the present invention. Inthis regard, each block in the flow charts or block diagrams representsa module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or moreexecutable instructions for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). It should also be noted that in some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order or two or more blocks may becombined, depending upon the functionality involved.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to beconstrued as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments ofthis invention have been described, those skilled in the art willreadily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplaryembodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings andadvantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of this invention. Therefore,it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the presentinvention and is not to be construed as limited to the specificembodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosedembodiments, as well as other embodiments, are intended to be includedwithin the scope of the invention.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A power pedestal, comprising: a housingcomprising a first sidewall with externally accessible first and secondpower outlet receptacles and a second sidewall with externallyaccessible third and fourth power outlet receptacles; and a powercircuit in the housing coupled to an incoming bus, wherein the powercircuit comprises a first ground fault circuit breaker coupled to firstand second branch circuit breakers and a second ground fault circuitbreaker coupled to third and fourth branch circuit breakers, wherein thefirst and second branch circuit breakers are coupled to the first andsecond power outlet receptacles, respectively, and the third and fourthbranch circuit breakers are coupled to the third and fourth power outletreceptacles, respectively, and wherein the first, second, third andfourth branch circuit breakers are non-ground fault circuit breakerswhereby the first, second, third, and fourth power outlet receptaclesare free of connections to respective individual ground fault breakers.2. The power pedestal of claim 1, wherein the power circuit comprises afirst side and a second side that are each electrically connected to afirst lead, a second lead, electrical ground and electrical neutral ofthe incoming bus, wherein the first side comprises the first groundfault circuit breaker and the first and second branch circuit breakersand the second side comprises the second ground fault circuit breakerand the third and fourth branch circuit breakers.
 3. The power pedestalof claim 2, wherein only one of the first side or the second side of thepower circuit further comprises a photocell and a light source coupledto the first lead.
 4. The power pedestal of claim 3, wherein the onlyone of the first side or the second side of the power circuit with thephotocell and the light source further comprises a fuse coupled to thefirst lead and the photocell.
 5. The power pedestal of claim 1, whereinthe first, second, third and fourth power outlet receptacles are marinegrade, corrosion resistant receptacles.
 6. The power pedestal of claim1, wherein the first and second ground fault circuit breakers aretwo-phase, 30 mA ground fault protected devices.
 7. The power pedestalof claim 1, wherein the first, second, third and fourth branch circuitbreakers are two phase, 50 A (amp) devices.
 8. The power pedestal ofclaim 1, wherein the first, second, third and fourth power outletreceptacles are 50 A, 125/250V power outlet receptacles.
 9. The powerpedestal of claim 1, wherein the first, second power outlet receptaclesare configured to connect to first and second plugs of a reverse Yadapter in a vessel to power pedestal connection.
 10. The power pedestalof claim 1, in combination with a power distribution cabinet comprisinga feeder breaker connected to the power pedestal and to a plurality ofadditional power pedestals defining a power pedestal loop feed bus,wherein the power circuit of each power pedestal is configured toprovide an electrical disconnect from the loop feed bus allowing forserviceability of the first side or the second side of the power circuitor an entirety of the power pedestal without disconnecting power to astring of pedestals on the loop feed bus.
 11. The power pedestal ofclaim 1, further comprising an internal bus electrically connected tothe incoming bus and to the first, second, third and fourth power outletreceptacles providing the power circuit.
 12. The power pedestal of claim11, wherein the internal bus resides inside the housing above theincoming bus.
 13. The power pedestal of claim 1, further comprising awater supply connection coupled to the housing.
 14. The power pedestalof claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a third sidewall connectingthe first and second sidewalls, and wherein the third sidewall comprisesa removable panel or a pivotable panel, optionally wherein the thirdsidewall comprises a visually transmissive window.
 15. The powerpedestal of claim 1, further comprising a first ground fault indicatorand reset and externally accessible and adjacent the first ground faultcircuit breaker on the first sidewall and a second ground faultindicator and reset externally accessible and adjacent the second groundfault circuit breaker on the second sidewall.
 16. A method of providingground fault protection to power pedestals, comprising, comprising:providing a plurality of power pedestals, each with a power circuit in apower pedestal housing and coupled to an incoming bus, wherein the powercircuit comprises a first ground fault circuit breaker coupled to firstand second branch circuit breakers and a second ground fault circuitbreaker coupled to third and fourth branch circuit breakers, wherein thefirst and second branch circuit breakers are coupled to first and secondpower outlet receptacles, respectively, and the third and fourth branchcircuit breakers are coupled to third and fourth power outletreceptacles, respectively, and wherein the first, second, third andfourth branch circuit breakers are non-ground fault circuit breakersthereby eliminating individual ground fault breakers tied to each poweroutlet receptacle; electrically disconnecting the first ground faultcircuit breaker from the power circuit and while keeping the secondground fault circuit breaker operational and with the power circuitproviding power to the third and fourth power outlet receptacles but notthe first and second power outlet receptacles; and servicing powercircuit components of the power pedestal while the third and fourthpower outlet receptacles are supplying power and the first and secondpower outlet receptacles are not supplying power without requiring apower down of an entirety of the power circuit.
 17. The method of claim16, wherein the power circuit comprises a first side and a second sidethat are each electrically connected to a first lead, a second lead,electrical ground and electrical neutral of the incoming bus, whereinthe first side comprises the first ground fault circuit breaker and thefirst and second branch circuit breakers and the second side comprisesthe second ground fault circuit breaker and the third and fourth branchcircuit breakers.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein only one of thefirst side or the second side of the power circuit further comprises aphotocell and a light source coupled to the first lead, the methodfurther comprising detecting environmental lighting conditions using thephotocell and illuminating the power pedestal using the light source.19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first, second, third and fourthpower outlet receptacles are marine grade, corrosion resistantreceptacles.
 20. The method of claim 16, further comprising connecting areverse Y adapter cable from a vessel to a power pedestal of theplurality of power pedestals for shore power.
 21. The method of claim16, wherein the power pedestal is one of a plurality of power pedestalsconnected to a common feeder breaker of a power distribution cabinet anddefining a power pedestal loop feed bus, wherein the method furthercomprises allowing each power pedestal to provide an electricaldisconnect from the loop feed bus allowing for serviceability of thefirst side or the second side of the power circuit or an entirety of thepower pedestal without disconnecting power to a string of pedestals onthe loop feed bus thereby allowing for serviceability of the first sideor the second side of the power circuit or the entire power pedestalwithout disconnecting power to a string of the plurality of powerpedestals on a loop feed circuit.